Mass. Governor Charlie Baker Delivers 1st State of the State

The Republican delivered the speech Thursday night to a joint session of the Legislature - overwhelmingly controlled by Democrats - and a statewide television audience

Gov. Charlie Baker discussed accomplishments from his first year in office and looked ahead to issues he considers critical to the future of Massachusetts during his first State of the State address.

The Republican delivered the speech Thursday night to a joint session of the Legislature - overwhelmingly controlled by Democrats - and a statewide television audience.

Baker said Wednesday that he expected much of the speech to focus on "things that people have heard me talk about before," including energy policies and the state's ongoing opioid addiction crisis.

He also said he would discuss some of the "great things" that Massachusetts has going for it.

Baker reflected on a number of bipartisan efforts from the past year, including measures aimed at overhauling or improving the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, the state Department of Children and Families, the Massachusetts Health Connector, and the Registry of Motor Vehicles.

Besides the opioid bill, Baker also pressed lawmakers to act on bills that would raise the state cap on charter schools and make it easier for the state to tap into hydropower from Canada.

Baker also detailed job training initiatives and unveiled elements of his budget proposal, including efforts to steady the state's fiscal outlook.

Baker's full budget proposal for the 2016 fiscal year that begins July 1 is expected to be released sometime next week.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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